Travis Hafner hit a game tying home run in the ninth inning before Vernon Wells doubled home the go ahead run in the 10th as the Yankees defeated the Orioles 6-4 in 10 innings on Monday.
The Yankees provided plenty of power on Monday, hitting four solo home runs including blasts from Hafner, Robinson Cano, Lyle Overbay, and the first in the major league career of David Adams. CC Sabathia started for the Yankees and gave up over 10 hits for the second straight start, the first time he has ever done so in his career.
Overbay’s home run gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, however RBI doubles by Nick Markakis and JJ Hardy gave the O’s the lead and chased Sabathia from the game. Baltimore manager Buck Showalter opted to go to closer Jim Johnson in the ninth despite Johnson having blown his last two save opportunities. This move quickly backfired as Hafner hit an opposite field home run with one out in the inning that tied the score up at four a piece.
After David Robertson came in and shut the Orioles out in the bottom of the ninth, Ichiro Suzuki led off the top of 10th with a double and later came around to score on a Wells’ double. Hafner continued his clutch hitting with an RBI single that gave the Yankees a 6-4 advantage.
Mariano Rivera remained perfect on the year, recording his 17th save in 17 chances by striking out Chris Dickerson to end the game. The loss is the sixth in a row for the Orioles, who send Miguel Gonzalez to the hill Tuesday to face off against Yankees starter Phil Hughes.